A holistic approach to identifying factors associated with an altered pattern of urinary elimination in stroke patients.

Urination dysfunction is a problem commonly associated with stroke. However, the types of urination abnormalities have yet to be adequately classified. An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted to determine the definition and classification of urination dysfunctions amenable to nursing diagnosis and therapy. A model was constructed for this study that enumerated psychological, social and biological factors and their relationships to urination dysfunction. An abstracting form was developed for obtaining relevant data from discharged patients' records. The sample consisted of thirteen stroke patients discharged from a rehabilitation service. Tabular presentations and comparisons suggested patient characteristics that are pertinent to the diagnosis and treatment of urination dysfunction. This study was an initial step in formulating a theory about urination dysfunction.